BROCKTON – As he shopped for e-cigarettes on Sunday, Jacob Marks says an upcoming ban on cigarette sales to anyone under 21 in Brockton is a good idea.
Marks, a 23-year-old Easton resident, began smoking at 15 and says he has tried unsuccessfully to kick the habit.
“I think it’s better. My brother started smoking at 17. I don’t like it, so I think it’s actually better,” Marks said as he shopped at Tobacconist at the Westgate Mall.
A ban on cigarette sales to anyone under 21 and a new set of regulations governing tobacco sales in Brockton will take effect Sept. 30, said Executive Health Officer Louis Tartaglia.
The Board of Health in Brockton last week voted to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products in the city from 18 to 21, in addition to passing several other regulations on cigar and e-cigarette sales.
The regulations cap the amount of permits for tobacco sales in Brockton to those businesses that presently possess them and the permits cannot be grandfathered, Tartaglia said.
It would also ban cigarette sales in pharmacies in Brockton.
Mayor Bill Carpenter, several local businesses and a statewide coalition of retailers opposed the measure, arguing that it would drive business to neighboring communities without effectively addressing the issue of tobacco use by local youth.
Deep Patel, manager at Tobacconist, said while the ban is beneficial from a public health perspective, he expects it will hurt sales.
“For the business I think it’s going to reduce down the sales that we have,” Patel said. “People will try to go to other towns around here to buy their cigarettes and other tobacco products.”
Others say they don’t think the ban will hurt sales.
“I don’t think so. We usually get older people as regular customers who are over 21,” said Shanan Piyal, clerk at 28 Corner Convenience Store on Montello Street.
Piyal, who is a smoker, said for public health reasons, the ban is a good idea.
“This will be great because I see all these little kids and they start smoking. They should be over 21,” he said. “I’m a smoker as well but I’m trying to quit, so that will be good for everybody.”
The increase in the minimum age to buy tobacco products in Brockton comes just as the Massachusetts government considers doing the same. A bill passed recently by the state Senate is now going to the House of Representatives. Gov. Charlie Baker has not indicated whether he supports the legislation.
The regulations also feature a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, except at adult-only tobacco specialty stores.
Single cigar sales and blunt wraps are forbidden under the new regulations. The rules also prohibit anyone from selling original factory wrapped packages of two or more cigars unless they are priced at $5 or more.
Several smokers said Sunday they agreed with the ban.
“I started smoking at an early age. I feel like it’s an addiction that you can’t kick so easily,” said Marquis Blanc, 22, who smoked a cigarette outside Westgate Mall. “(The ban) will make it harder for younger people to start smoking.”
Jesus Sepulveda-Muniz, 32, of Brockton said he’s tried patches and gum to quit smoking, unsuccessfully. He agrees with the ban.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “It gives the younger people more thought about whether they want to get into something so caustic.”
To enforce regulations, the Brockton Board of Health will employ underage agents to try to buy cigarettes to monitor compliance of local businesses, Tartaglia said.
Violation fines start at $100 for a first offense. If repeated frequently enough, fines could result in the loss of a tobacco sales license, Tartaglia said. Violators would have a right to a hearing.
Marks, a 23-year-old Easton resident, began smoking at 15 and says he has tried unsuccessfully to kick the habit.
“I think it’s better. My brother started smoking at 17. I don’t like it, so I think it’s actually better,” Marks said as he shopped at Tobacconist at the Westgate Mall.
A ban on cigarette sales to anyone under 21 and a new set of regulations governing tobacco sales in Brockton will take effect Sept. 30, said Executive Health Officer Louis Tartaglia.
The Board of Health in Brockton last week voted to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products in the city from 18 to 21, in addition to passing several other regulations on cigar and e-cigarette sales.
The regulations cap the amount of permits for tobacco sales in Brockton to those businesses that presently possess them and the permits cannot be grandfathered, Tartaglia said.
It would also ban cigarette sales in pharmacies in Brockton.
Mayor Bill Carpenter, several local businesses and a statewide coalition of retailers opposed the measure, arguing that it would drive business to neighboring communities without effectively addressing the issue of tobacco use by local youth.
Deep Patel, manager at Tobacconist, said while the ban is beneficial from a public health perspective, he expects it will hurt sales.
“For the business I think it’s going to reduce down the sales that we have,” Patel said. “People will try to go to other towns around here to buy their cigarettes and other tobacco products.”
Others say they don’t think the ban will hurt sales.
“I don’t think so. We usually get older people as regular customers who are over 21,” said Shanan Piyal, clerk at 28 Corner Convenience Store on Montello Street.
Piyal, who is a smoker, said for public health reasons, the ban is a good idea.
“This will be great because I see all these little kids and they start smoking. They should be over 21,” he said. “I’m a smoker as well but I’m trying to quit, so that will be good for everybody.”
The increase in the minimum age to buy tobacco products in Brockton comes just as the Massachusetts government considers doing the same. A bill passed recently by the state Senate is now going to the House of Representatives. Gov. Charlie Baker has not indicated whether he supports the legislation.
The regulations also feature a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, except at adult-only tobacco specialty stores.
Single cigar sales and blunt wraps are forbidden under the new regulations. The rules also prohibit anyone from selling original factory wrapped packages of two or more cigars unless they are priced at $5 or more.
Several smokers said Sunday they agreed with the ban.
“I started smoking at an early age. I feel like it’s an addiction that you can’t kick so easily,” said Marquis Blanc, 22, who smoked a cigarette outside Westgate Mall. “(The ban) will make it harder for younger people to start smoking.”
Jesus Sepulveda-Muniz, 32, of Brockton said he’s tried patches and gum to quit smoking, unsuccessfully. He agrees with the ban.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “It gives the younger people more thought about whether they want to get into something so caustic.”
To enforce regulations, the Brockton Board of Health will employ underage agents to try to buy cigarettes to monitor compliance of local businesses, Tartaglia said.
Violation fines start at $100 for a first offense. If repeated frequently enough, fines could result in the loss of a tobacco sales license, Tartaglia said. Violators would have a right to a hearing.
Resource : http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20160508/NEWS/160506582
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